LOCATION RAINDANCE               CA

Established Series
Rev. EWB-AMB-JBF-TM
06/2017

RAINDANCE SERIES

The Raindance series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks. Raindance soils are on stream terraces and outwash terraces. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 350 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 6 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Calcixerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Raindance loam--pastureland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A1--0 to 15 cm; gray (10YR 5/1) loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and very fine roots throughout; common very fine tubular and interstitial pores; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 25 cm thick)

A2--15 to 33 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and very fine roots throughout; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 25 cm thick)

C1--33 to 46 cm; pale olive (5Y6/3) sandy clay loam, olive (5Y 5/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and very fine roots throughout; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 25 cm thick)

Ck--46 to 66 cm; pale olive (5Y 6/3) sandy clay loam, olive (5Y 5/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and very fine roots throughout; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 25 percent medium soft carbonate masses; violent effervescence; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear wavy boundary. (13 to 38 cm thick)

C2--66 to 102 cm; pale olive (5Y 6/3) sandy clay loam, olive (5Y 5/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and very fine roots throughout; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 5 percent fine olive gray (5Y 5/2), moist redox depletions; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 50 cm thick)

C3--102 to 152 cm; pale olive (5Y 6/3) sandy clay loam, olive (5Y 5/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and very fine roots throughout; few very fine tubular and interstitial pores; 10 percent fine olive gray (5Y 5/2) redox depletions; noneffervescent; neutral (pH 7.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Mono County, California; in the Bridgeport Valley; about 500 feet south and 1,440 feet east of the northwest corner section 24, T. 4 N., R. 24 E.; Twin Lakes USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 38 degrees 11 minutes 52.25 seconds N and longitude 119 degrees 16 minutes 53.52 seconds W; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 38.1978472 latitude, -119.2815333 longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually dry in the moisture control section; moist winter and spring; usually dry summer and fall; aridic moisture regime that borders on xeric. Saturated within 75 to 100 cm during the late winter and early spring in most years.
Mean annual soil temperature: 7 to 8 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness: 25 to 41 cm.
Depth to Calcic horizon: 50 to 75 cm.
Depth to seasonal saturation: 75 to 100 cm.

Particle-size control section - Clay content: Averages 18 to 25 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages less than 15 percent, mainly gravel. Lithology of rock fragments is mixed.

A horizons
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist.
Organic matter content: 1 to 3 percent.
Reaction: Slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Effervescence: Noneffervescent or slightly effervescent.

C1 horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y.
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 1 through 3 dry or moist.
Texture: Sandy clay loam, or loam.
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent.
Rock fragments: Less than 15 percent.
Reaction: Slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Effervescence: Slightly effervescent or strongly effervescent.

Ck horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 5Y.
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 1 through 3 dry or moist.
Texture: Sandy clay loam, or loam.
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent.
Rock fragments: Less than 15 percent.
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 25 percent.
Reaction: Slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Effervescence: Strongly effervescent or violently effervescent.
Identifiable secondary calcium carbonates: Occurs as common to many filaments or soft masses.

C2 and C3 horizons
Hue: 2.5Y or 5Y.
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 1 through 3 dry or moist.
Texture: Sandy clay loam, or loam.
Clay content: 18 to 25 percent.
Rock fragments: Less than 15 percent.
Reaction: Neutral or slightly alkaline.
Effervescence: Noneffervescent or slightly effervescent.
Redoximorphic features: Redox concentrations occur as masses of iron or manganese accumulation in the matrix or as redox depletions that occur as zones of iron depletion.

COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Raindance soils are on stream terraces and outwash terraces. They formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. Elevations range from 1,950 to 2,015 meters. The climate is semi-arid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 300 to 410 mm, mean annual temperature is 6 to 7 degrees C., and the frost-free period is 30 to 60 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Eastwalker and Goodbye series. Eastwalker and Goodbye soils lack a calcic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained; low surface runoff; rapid permeability; moderately low saturated hydraulic conductivity. Enodsaturation is present with a apparent seasonal high water table between 75 and 100 cm (moderately deep free water occurrence class) between January and June. Cumulative annual duration class is common. These soils are susceptible to rare flooding for very brief periods year round.

USE AND VEGETATION: Raindance soils are used for pastureland, recreation, watershed and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is mainly sedges.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern California, east of the Sierra Nevada Range. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 26.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mono County (Coleville-Bridgeport Area), California, 2010.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from surface to 33 cm (A1 and A2 horizons).
Identifiable secondary carbonates - The zone from 46 to 66 cm (Ck horizon).
Aquic conditions - The conditions of endosaturation and reduction in horizons between 66 and 152 cm at certain times in normal years (C2 and C3 horizons).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 25 to 100 cm (lower A2, C1, Ck and C2 horizons).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.